Before Mr. _Walpole's_ enumeration of the following shop-bills, coats of arms, &c. made its appearance, perhaps few of them were known to our collectors. Concerning the genuineness of some of these unimportant engravings, no doubt can be entertained; but whence is it inferred that _all_ of them were his productions? Do we receive them merely on the faith of Mr. _Pond_? or are they imputed to our artist for any other reason, or on the strength of any other testimony? I am assured, by a gentleman who possesses the chief of them, and is well acquainted with _Hogarth's_ manner, that from mere external evidence several of these could not have been authenticated. It is natural, however, to suppose that most of them (if _Hogarth's_) were the fruits of his apprenticeship.[1] As such, therefore, they should be placed at the beginning of every collection. [1] Let it be remembered likewise, that being bound apprentice to the single branch of engraving arms and cyphers, the majority of his works, whether on base metal or silver, must have been long since melted down. During the minority of _Hogarth_, the forms in which plate was made, could contribute little to its chance of preservation. Pot-bellied tankards, and salvers scalloped like old-fashioned minced-pies, were the highest efforts of that period. * * * * * 1. People in a shop under the King's arms: _Mary_ and _Ann Hogarth_. "_A shop-bill_" for his two sisters, who for many years kept a linen-draper's, or rather what is called a slop-shop. _Mary_ and _Ann Hogarth_. from the Old Frock-shop near the corner of _The Long Walk_, facing _The Cloysters_, Removed to ye _Kings Arms_ joyning to ye _Little Britain-gate_, near _Long Walk_. Sells ye best and most Fashionable Ready Made Frocks, sutes of Fustian, Ticken and Holland, stript Dimmity and Flañel Wastcoats, blue and canvas Frocks, and bluecoat Boys Drars. Likewise Fustians, Tickens, Hollands, white stript Dĩ̃mitys, white and stript Flañels in ye piece. By wholesale or Retale, at Reasonable Rates. 2. His own cypher, with his name under it at length; "_a plate he used for his books_." I have reason to think it was neither designed nor engraved by _Hogarth_. 3. A _Turk's_ head. "_A shop bill_," for _John Barker_, goldsmith, at the _Morocco_ Ambassador's head in _Lombard-Street_.--A copy of this has been made. 4. A shop-bill, with emblems of Trade. Grand Duke of _Tuscany's_ arms at the top; those of _Florence_ within the plate. At the four corners, views of _Naples, Venice, Genoa,_ and _Leghorne_. At Mrs. _Holt's, Italian_ Warehouse,